Phone Case/Protector for Multi-pitch

Hi,  I am wondering if anyone has found a good system for transporting their smart phones on multi-pitch climbs.  I need something to keep it accessible so I actually use it to take pics, vs just the tag along-for emergency use-stuffed in a sac with my rain shell system.  I climb in areas with cell reception primarily, mostly doing FA's, so feel it foolish to leave with the pack which sometimes gets hit by rockfall anyways.

Thanks!

I personally like the LifeProof FRĒ case. It protects the phone extremely well but doesn’t hinder the functionality. It also is quite light and slim. Although I never use a lanyard with my phone, the case has a small slot for one. You would need 0.5-0.8mm cord to make a loop through the slot, then attached some sort of lanyard. Hope this helps!

Personally use the mammut multi pitch chalk bag (not sure of actual product name). Though I have to take the case off my phone for it to fit inside the zipper pocket. If you’re comfortable without a lanyard for your phone it works well. Haven't had problems chalking up or anything like that while the phone is in the zippered pocket. Also have a small knife in another pocket which also doesn't interfere with usage. Highly recommend, for reference I carry a Samsung galaxy s10

https://www.mammut.com/us/en/products/2050-00881-00240/multipitch-chalk-bag

This. Works with any case. Add a pop-socket eque thing to the case and you’ll never drop your phone and hold it comfortably one-handed.

https://www.rei.com/product/147938/nite-ize-hitch-phone-anchor-tether?CAWELAID=120217890005452730

I made this in my school machine shop as a just-for fun project... once covid ends I might try to get back in there and find ways to make them faster / in more sizes / with better access to the screen and camera. But I think Christian's REI thing is actually the best / easiest solution.

Related, but a little off topic - anyone recommend a chalk bag other than the Mammut Multipitch that easily holds a normal phone?

The Mammut is nice but too heavy/bulky for me to want to use much. I also have a Tufa Cache, which barely holds a phone, but the material is both stiff  wore realtively quickly and I would like a slight bigger phone pocket. Thanks.

I use one of these.

Hangtime

Rexford Nesakwatch wrote:

Related, but a little off topic - anyone recommend a chalk bag other than the Mammut Multipitch that easily holds a normal phone?

The Mammut is nice but too heavy/bulky for me to want to use much. I also have a Tufa Cache, which barely holds a phone, but the material is both stiff  wore realtively quickly and I would like a slight bigger phone pocket. Thanks.

Your local climbing gym will have a pile of forgotten chalk bags you can buy cheap or they may just give you. Work great for phones, holding bolts, ect.  Two other options are 90’s era Fannie packs or small mountain bike frame bags.  Lots of padding and cheap at resale shop or on Amazon.  

Drill 2 small holes in the back of your current phone case, tie or hitch a loop of shock cord or similar through that, and clip the other end of the cord to your harness. No purchase necessary and has worked for me for years.

Christian Black wrote:

This. Works with any case. Add a pop-socket eque thing to the case and you’ll never drop your phone and hold it comfortably one-handed.

https://www.rei.com/product/147938/nite-ize-hitch-phone-anchor-tether?CAWELAID=120217890005452730

Thanks for the lead

Thanks guys. I will check the leashes out. Still need a pouch though. 

Here's a hand-made pouch made for your harness. He sewed some Aerogel insulated ones last fall for ice season. Mine worked very well all winter.

LifeProof all day. I’m rough on my phone at work (ie drop it 6'+ feet about once a month). I’ve never broken a phone since I started using LifeProof many years ago. A bonus is that they’re a CO company and they have lifetime warranty that’s super easy to use. I can’t help you with a pouch.

AlpineIce wrote:

Here's a hand-made pouch made for your harness. 

Just looked at your link. $28 is a ton of money for a nylon pouch with a zipper. I have something very similar from Home Depot that cost me about a quarter of that. 

Flip Belt. https://flipbelt.com/ I wear it around my waist, above my harness. Quick and easy access right on your belly when you want your phone - no need to fumble around to find the right thing on your harness or in your pack. Get the zipper version if you're worried your phone will squeeze out during climbing contortions.

You can often find them cheaper used on resale sites like Poshmark or Mercari. poshmark.com/listing/Flip-B…

I use a Tufa Salathe Sack in lieu of climbing with a pack on most multipitch routes.

Salathe Sack

The Salathe Tufa and home made zipper pouch are perfect. I have a case(edit: guess my OP was not clear), it’s the dirt, and tools, and gear always clanking around my harness that keep me from leaving my phone exposed.  I want a bag to stuff my phone in, I mostly spend my time establishing new routes these days, which is messy work. I tried one of those running belts but having something snug around my stomach above my harness felt weird.

Thank you all for the replies! 

I have the OtterBox defender (bulky but really sturdy) plus a Night-Ize hitch doodad from amazon ( amazon.com/dp/B07FQV4WPB?re…;th=1). I removed the little biner from the doodad and instead just tie a ~3mm keeper cord through the anchor ring. I keep my phone in my pants pocket with the screen facing in to my hip, have never worried about it coming out of the pocket since it's always fully beneath my harness leg loop and feels pretty secure there. When I take it out I clip the cord to a single length sling over my shoulder, sometimes to a gear loop. Once I led an entire pitch (p4 on Oz in Tuolumne) before I realized I had left it clipped to a gear loop the whole time... oops!

I’ve been using this thing Rogue Fishing Co. The Protector Phone Tether https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W1Z5C64/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_A4397ZQAMCX1VJRZK7GS?psc=1 for the past few months, keeping the phone in my thigh pocket, or clipped to the carabiner when not using it.  The cord part is great, I love how it stays out of the way but extends when you need it.  The rubber spider part is not so great: often one part of it will stick to pants fabric when pulling it out of pocket and come off.  Not ideal. Seems like this thing could work great the hitch things others linked that slip into the case. I was about to make something like that, but for $10 might.m be more worth my time to buy it lol

I use that mammut chalk bag too. I got it on sale for 20 bucks and it's just as unnoticeable as any other chalk bag. I keep some electrolyte/salt tablets in one pocket and a small knife and tape in the bigger pocket. My phone would fit but I usually have a small backpack and the phone goes in it or it stays in my pocket. I have put it in the chalk bag though and it does fit.